Ray Williams, The Ultimate Post-NBA Cautionary Tale, Is Dead At 58

Summary of 2 articles · Updated Mar 22, 2013

Williams turned it around towards the end. Ray Williams, who went from being a first-round NBA pick and team captain, to bankruptcy, homelessness, and eventually redemption, has passed away in a New York hospital, according to the Knicks. “I’m not motivat… (more)ed by anger or revenge,’’ Williams said. A string of bad investments led him to file for bankruptcy, and Williams applied for and received his NBA pension at age 40. After a 10-year career that spanned six teams, including two stints with the Knicks, the star point guard ran into trouble immediately upon retirement in 1987. It wasn't drugs, or drink, or any specific failingjust a series of blows that were too much for a man who didn't know how to do anything but play basketball. The grand total: $200,000, and he quickly lost it in a real estate scam. His wife and kids left him.